ANATOMY OF

RESPIRATOR
Y SYSTEM
HUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY

Gouri Nandana K
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
•The respiratory system contributes to
homeostasis by providing the
exchange of gases such as oxygen
and carbon dioxide between the
atmosphere air, blood and tissue cells.
•It also helps adjust the pH of body
fluids.
•They contains receptor for sense of
smell, filter inspired air, produces
vocal sound , and excrete small
amount of water and heat.
 ANATOMICAL PART OF RESPIRATORY
SYSTEM
The respiratory system consists of:
•NOSE
•PHARYNX (Throat)
•LARYNX (voice box)
•TRACHEA (wind pipe)
•BRONCHI
•LUNGS
The parts of respiratory system
can be classified according to
either structure or function.
 RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
CLASSIFICATION BASED ON THEIR
STRUCTURE
Structurally respiratory system consists
of 2 parts:
1.THE UPPER RESPIRATORY
SYSTEM: This includes nose, nasal
cavity, pharynx, and associated
structures.
2.THE LOWER RESPIRATORY
SYSTEM: Includes the larynx,trachea,
bronchi and lungs
 RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
CLASSIFICATION BASED ON THEIR
FUNCTION
Functionally respiratory system consists of 2 parts:
1.THE CONDUCTING ZONE: It’s consists of a series of
interconnecting cavities and tubes both outside and within the
lungs.
2.THE RESPIRATORY ZONE: It’s consists of tubes and tissues
within the lungs where gas exchanges occurs.
These includes the respiratory bronchioles , alveolar ducts,
alveolar sacs and alveoli.
This respiratory zone are the main sites of gas exchange
between air and blood.
 NOSE
Nose is the entrance of respiratory system that
consists of external and internal nose.
•THE EXTERNAL NOSE:The portion visible on the
face and consists of bony framework; frontal bone,
nasal bone and maxilla.And the cartilaginous
framework; lateral nasal cartilages, sepal nasal
cartilages, minor alar cartilages and major alar
cartilages.
FUNCTIONS: protecting the inner nose, allowing air to
enter the body and contributing to appearance and
voice.
EXTERNAL NOSE INTERNAL
NOSE
THE INTERNAL NOSE:It is also called as nasal cavity
lined with muscle and mucous membrane lies inferior
to the nasal bone and superior to the oral cavity.
This includes nasal septum (a vertical partition divides
nasal cavity into left and right sides), internal
nares(opening from nasal cavity to pharynx),
paranasal sinuses(drain mucous )and nasolacrimal
ducts(drain tears).
The nasal cavity is divided into a larger inferior
respiratory region and a smaller superior olfactory
region.
RESPIRATORY REGION OF NASAL CAVITY:
This is lined with ciliated pseudostraited columnar epithelium with
numerous goblet cells and is a largest part of nasal cavity.
The inferior respiratory region of the nasal cavity is the nasal
turbinate also called nasal conchae(responsible for directing
airflow, humidifying, heating and filtering air)and is divided into
three sections.
The nasal cavity has three conchae these are the inferior, middle,
and superior conchae.
THE SUPERIOR OLFACTORY REGION OF NASAL CAVITY:
Also known as the superior nasal concha contains olfactory nerves
and cells and is lined with specialized cells called olfactory
epithelium that contain neurons with sensory cilia.
 PHARYNX
•The Pharynx or throat is a funnel shaped tube about 13cm long
•It’s wall composed of skeletal muscles and is lined with a mucous
membrane.
•The pharynx lies just posterior to the nasal cavities and superior to
the larynx.
•The muscles of the entire pharynx are arranged in 2 layers ; an
outer circular layer and inner longitudinal layer.
•The pharynx is divided into 3 regions ; Nasopharynx, Oropharynx,
and laryngopharynx.
FUNCTIONS: Passageway of air and food, provide a resonating
chamber for speech,sounds and houses the tonsils.
•NASOPHARYNX:It is the
superior portion of the
pharynx and is formed by
muscles and epithelial
mucosal covering.
Helps in breathing, voice
production, filtering and
humidifier inspired air, also aid
in the control of pressure
between the nasopharynx and
middle air.
•OROPHARYNX: This is the intermediate portion of the
pharynx which contains both respiratory and digestive
function as a common passageway for air, food and
drink.
Two pairs of tonsils, the palatine and lingual tonsils are
found in the oropharynx.
•LARYNGOPHARYNX: This is the inferior portion of the
pharynx also called the hypopharynx.
The hypopharynx opens into the oesophagus
posteriorly and to the larynx anteriorly.
It is also contain both respiratory and digestive
functions.
LARYNX
•The larynx or a voice box is a
short passageway that connects
the laryngopharynx with the
trachea.
•The walls of the larynx is
composed of 9 pieces of
cartilages : 3 occur singly- thyroid
cartilage, epiglottis and cricoid
cartilage.
And 3 in pairs arytenoid cartilage,
cuneiform cartilage and
corniculate cartilage.
•The cavity of larynx is divided into 3 main regions: The vestibule,
The middle and the infraglottic space.
•The portion above the vestibule is called laryngeal cavity and the
portion below the vocal folds called the infraglottic cavity.
•THE THYROID CARTILAGE (Adam’s apple): consists of 2 fused
hyaline cartilage and gives the larynx a triangular shape.
•THE EPIGLOTTIS: It is a large leaf shaped piece of elastic
cartilage with the stem attached to thyroid cartilage.
The broad superior leaf portion of the epiglottis is unattached and
is free to move up and down like a trap door.
During swallowing the larynx rise and the elevation of larynx
causes the epiglottis to move down and form a lid over and
closing it off.
The glottis consists of a pair of mucous membrane, the vocal folds
and the space between them is called rima glottis.
If by any chance a small particle of dust, smoke, food or liquid pass
into the larynx, a cough reflex occurs and usually expel the
material.
•CRICOID CARTILAGE:It is the ring of hyaline cartilage that forms
the inferior wall of the larynx.
The muscles in the cricoid cartilage play a role in opening and
closing the vocal chords and are essential for voice pitch and
quality.
•THE ARYTENOID CARTILAGE: They are the triangular hyaline
cartilage helps to move the vocal folds allowing tension and
relaxation.
•CORNICULATE CARTILAGE: They are the horn
shaped pieces of elastic cartilage.
They are located at the apex of each arytenoid
cartilage.
Helps in the support of the vocal folds and the lateral
aspects of the epiglottis.
•CUNEIFORM CARTILAGE: Two small club shaped
cartilages which are made of elastic cartilage and are
located in front of and above the corniculate cartilage.
They also have the same function as corniculate
cartilage.
 TRACHEA
•The trachea or windpipe is a tubular
passageway for air that is about 12cm long
and 2.5 cm in diameter.
•It is located anterior to the oesophagus.
•The layers of tracheal wall are
mucosa,submucosa, hyaline cartilage and
adventitia (composed of areolar connective
tissue).
•FUNCTION: Allow passage of inspired and
expired air into and out of the lung
•MUCOSA: The mucosa of tracheal consists of epithelial
layer of ciliated pseudostraited columnar epithelium and
layers of lamina that contains elastic and reticular fibres.
•SUBMUCOSA: It consist of areolar connective tissue
that contains seromucous glands and their ducts.
•HYALINE CARTILAGE: They seen as 16-20 incomplete
horizontal rings which resembles the letter C, which
stacked one above the other.
•ADVENTITIA: It’s consists of areolar connective tissue
that joins the trachea to surrounding tissues.
BRONCHI
•The trachea divides into 2 regions
to gives right main bronchus and
left main bronchus.
•The right main bronchus is more
vertical, shorter and wider than the
left and as a result, an aspirated
object is more likely to enter and
lodge in the right main bronchus
than the left.
•The point where the trachea
divides into right and left is called
carina.
•The branching from the trachea to the terminal
bronchioles gives the bronchial tree:

•By dividing the trachea, it divides into 2 main

(primary) bronchi, and the main bronchi divide to
form small bronchi called lobar(secondary)
bronchi, one for each love of the lung , the right
lung has 3 lobes and left lung has 2 lobes.The
lobar bronchi continue to branch called
segmental (tertiary) bronchi.The segmental
bronchi divides into bronchioles which was
further divided into terminal bronchioles.
 LUNGS
•The lungs are paired cone-shaped
organs in the thoracic cavity .
•They are separated from each other
by the heart and other structures of the
mediastinum, which divides the thoracic
cavity into two anatomically distinct
chambers.
•Each lung is enclosed and protected
by a double-layered serous membrane
called the pleural membrane or pleura.
•The superficial layer called the parietal
pleura, lines the wall of the thoracic cavity
and the deep layer, the visceral pleura,
covers the lungs themselves.
•Between the visceral and parietal
pleurae is a small space known as the
pleural cavity, which contains a small
amount of lubricating fluid secreted by
the membranes.
•This pleural fluid reduces friction
between the membranes, allowing them
to slide easily over one another during
breathing.
•Due to the space occupied by the heart, the left lung is about 10%
smaller than the right lung. Although the right lung is thicker and
broader, it is also somewhat shorter than the left lung because the
diaphragm is higher on the
right side, accommodating the liver that lies inferior to it.
•There are lobes, fissures and lobules seen in the lungs.
•There are two types of fissures seen in lungs oblique fissures and
horizontal fissures and the horizontal fissures only seen in right lung
but not in left lung.
•The oblique fissures divided the lung into 2 lobes : superior lobe
and inferior lobe.
•The horizontal fissures horizontally divides the oblique fissures
which leave three lobes in the right lung , is called the middle lobe.
•The terminal bronchioles subdivided into microscopic branches
called the respiratory bronchioles.
•From there the microscopic airways starts and move to the
alveolar ducts and to alveolar sacs then finally the alveoli.
•The wall of each alveolus consists of two types of alveolar
epithelial cells.
•Type I alveolar cells: are simple squamous epithelial cells that
form a nearly continuous lining of the alveolar wall and a main
site of gas exchange.
•Type II alveolar cells, also called septal cells are fewer in
number are rounded or cuboidal epithelial cells with free surfaces
containing microvilli, secrete alveolar fluid, which keeps the
surface between the cells and the air moist.